DOCSLIB.ORG

November/December 2019 All Aboard Indiana

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
November/December 2019 All Aboard Indiana ALL The Official Newsletter of the ABOARD Volume 6, Number 9 November / December 2019 IN THIS ISSUE: Page One Riding the SMART Rails in RIDING THE SMART RAILS IN CALIFORNIA! California! Page Two By: Andrea Ditto, Member, Indiana Passenger Rail Alliance Rail Nation Fall Conference 2019 Riding the SMART train in California Page Three was such a treat for many of us at the A Visit to the California Rail Railroad Passengers Association (RPA) Museum fall meeting. Page Four Op-Ed | Amtrak Leadership SMART is an acronym for Sonoma- Wounds The Empire Marin Area Rail Transit. Our group Builder Yet Again rode it beginning to end from San Page Seven Rafael to the Sonoma County A Message From the Save Airport (the main repair and “rest area” the Nickel Plate for the rail cars and engines). The present President rail service covers 43 miles of rail, includes Page Eight 10 stations and makes 17 round trips per Halt Removal of Nickel day. Eventually it will provide 70 miles of Editor’s Note: The SMART DMU trains can be Plate Tracks in service to 16 stations with some convertible to Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) so Indianapolis extensions almost ready to open. In its they would be a very good candidate for a Hoosier It’s Time to Build High- first year of operation, it exceeded one State revival with a route of Louisville/Cincinnati Speed Rail million riders! See their website online at: to Indianapolis to Chicago Millennium Station ! Parting Thoughts on https://www.sonomamarintrain.org/. Indiana Passenger Rail The SMART train arriving at San Rafael, CA Station Page Nine The ride is smooth and quick. The Obituaries Cummins-powered (made in Seymour, IN) Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) trains were Amtrak Reliability Report especially designed for the North American market by Japanese manufacturer Nippon Sharyo for Page Ten SMART and also Metrolinx for the [Union Station to Pearson Airport] UP Express in Toronto, Bullets from the Board Ontario. They make very little noise and have actually caused accidents due to “quiet zones” (engineer cannot blow his whistle) that have been set along the way. Page Eleven Riding the Rails The interiors are bright and colorful and spacious. There is comfortable coach seating with pull down Page Twelve tables for each seat. We were told that each entire car is wiped down (cleaned) thoroughly at least Discounts once a day and sometimes more. Reasonably priced snacks and drinks are available onboard. You’ll For More Information also have an ADA-compliant bathroom. Interestingly, they only accept credit cards, not cash. Publication Change SMART supports and employs persons with disabilities to encourage independence in the everyday Page Thirteen world. IPRA Membership Form www.indianahighspeedrail.org Hoosiers for Passenger Rail ALL ABOARD INDIANA NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2019 We began our journey in Sacramento by riding the Amtrak by Sean Jeans-Gail, Vice-President of Policy and Capitol Corridor train to Richmond, California, where we Government Affairs. The workshop was a hands-on boarded a minibus to San Rafael. The Corridor ride was a workshop to show advocates how to develop campaigns in beautiful journey through the Bay Area, and the minivan their own communities to improve train service in their crossed the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge (in itself an areas. engineering marvel). In the distance from the peak of the bridge, we could see an eerily hazy San Francisco skyline, During all day sessions on Saturday, three different Treasure Island, and the Oakland Bay Bridge. tracks were offered for attending members. These were: Inclusion and Equity, Making Change Happen, We arrived in San Rafael a few minutes before the arrival of and What Passengers Want. Morning and afternoon the train. Everyone must exit the train for an inspection sessions were held on varying topics. before others are allowed to board. Ticketing and boarding are super simple and smooth. We rode to the end of the line, Inclusion and Equity offered presentations by several exited, and waited a short time before reboarding for return. speakers. Topics included equity and housing attached to We exited the SMART train at Santa Rosa, a charming town, rail presence, valuing inclusion and equity in rail offerings to eat some lunch. We then reboarded the train to make our that have low funding and engaging youth in rail advocacy. way back to San Rafael and reversed our trip on the minibus and Corridor train. Making Change Happen offered sessions on insights to win hearts and influence senators, a blueprint for There are so many types of transportation systems in advocacy. The second session was on changing rail California. This is one of the great ones for those living in passenger policy. This session was about how citizens the Sonoma Marin area. must become involved to save passenger rail. Citizen advocacy is by far the best change agent for passenger rail. **A footnote: Just one week after we rode, this area was ravaged by wildfires. I noticed the SMART train was unable to What Passengers Want offered two sessions and four run for a few days but it is up and running again as of this printing. speakers on various subjects. Jim Allison presented California’s multi-modal scheduling plan to make travel more efficient and Abe Zumwalt talked about the case for a daily Sunset. Tom Martinelli, publisher of New York by Rail Nation Fall Conference Rail, talked about his 15 years of experience coordinating with Amtrak to plan travel for others and Madi Butler, the 2019 RPA intern who traveled the rails this past summer, spoke about food service aboard Amtrak. Since she had traveled By: Andrea Ditto, Member, most routes, she had interesting insights into service Indiana Passenger Rail Alliance problems on Amtrak. The Rail Passengers The Keynote Speaker was Chad Edison, Deputy Association’s (RPA) Fall Secretary of Transportation for the California State meeting was held in Transportation Agency. His presentation was on Sacramento, California from applying California’s experiences with transportation to Friday, October 18 to Monday, the rest of the United States. Mr. Edison spoke of the October 21, 2019. In addition development of coordinated transportation in California, to many interesting tours its triumphs and pitfalls and how these might apply to offered, the main symposium any other area which wants to accomplish the above. took place on Saturday, October 19. Sunday was the business meeting for the organization. Sunday afternoon included a wine tasting at a nearby area, On Friday, besides tours, a half and Monday included a tour of the high speed construction day advocacy workshop was led areas. Page 2 Page 2 ALL ABOARD INDIANA NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2019 Rail Nation Fall 2019 had many topics of interest for any rail The next stop on the tour is in the “construction” zone… advocate and gave added knowledge to those attending. construction of the Central Pacific railroad, that is. This part of the museum is a tribute to the Chinese laborers, whose backs built the railroad through the Sierra Nevadas and beyond. It is unbelievable that the Chinese, by hand, A Visit to the California Rail bored fifteen tunnels through solid granite. One to two Museum inches of rock per day was drilled. Tunnel #6 alone was 1750 feet long and stood at 7000 feet. Do the math. It was an impossible feat accomplished. Summer or winter made By: Andrea Ditto, Member, Indiana Passenger Rail Alliance no difference… too much snow (up to 30 feet)… the The Rail Passengers Association Fall Meeting was held in Chinese developed and built snow huts, some of which are Sacramento, California, because of its direct connection to still used today to prevent snow from blocking the tracks. the history of rail. That history is highlighted in no better It is very clear… the transcontinental railroad would not place than the California Rail Museum, the nation’s, and have been completed without the Chinese. perhaps the world’s best railroad museum. After the conclusion of the docent tour, you are free to visit all The museum sits in the shadow of the modern day rail station the different equipment displayed in the roundhouse. and the historical area of Old Sacramento. For such a famous Docents are on each piece of equipment to explain it and museum, admission was quite reasonable ($12). enhance your visit. You can board a sleeper car from the early 1900’s, a diner car from the 1930’s, a private rail car of Lucius When you enter the museum, you immediately meet Beebe and Charles Clegg from 1948, or a coach car from the docents, some of the most knowledgeable rail experts you 1880’s, and any number of locomotives on display. will ever meet. They are dressed as conductors, and conductors they are!! They guide you to the theater where But by far the most impressive and largest display is the a twenty minute film introduces you to the Central Pacific 1901 #4294 cab-forward steam engine (seen below here). Railroad and its role in the building of the transcontinental Because so much toxic exhaust and heat was created by railroad. You meet all the “main investors”, who took a the huge steam engine, the engine was attached cab chance that connected the East to the West of our country. forward for the safety of the crew. It is a monster of an engine. You can sit in it, “drive” it and experience it. A After the film, the screen rises to reveal the “roundhouse”, very powerful experience. where dynamic displays of train locomotives and rolling stock are revealed. It is quite a stunning and magnificent reveal.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail
    HIGH-SPEED INTERCITY PASSENGER RAIL Los AngelesSPEEDLINES County Metro Rail, a heavy rail rapid transit line in Los Angeles, includes the Red and Purple subway lines, as well as the Gold, Blue, Orange, March 2016 Silver and Green light rail lines. This is a look at the Red Line Vermont/Sunset Station which stops from San Fernando Valley, through Hollywood, to ISSUE #17 the historic Union Station Downtown LA. CALIFORNIA CHSRA’s 2016 Business Plan describing » p. 7 the latest project goals, financing, and development plans. HSR POLICY FORUM » p. 9 2 CONTENTS SPEEDLINES MAGAZINE 3 CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE 4 TRANSIT IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO 7 CALIFORNIA 9 HSR POLICY FORUM The U.S. transportation system as such is in most other countries consists, actually, of networks of varied systems. 17 LEGISLATIVE UPDATE In America, the backbone is composed of an agglomeration of roadways. Subsidiary to this, of course, is the collection of various “ways” or rights-of-way on which trains, planes and watercraft travel. Within this broad, mobile band, 19 TRANSFORMATIVE HSR working high-speed rail – passenger and freight – is decidedly missing. That said, the pendulum, at long last, is moving in the direction of high-speed rail inclusion, even if slowly and that – good, bad or indifferent depending 21 SPOTLIGHT upon one’s point of view – has upset the status quo. 22 THE CHUNNEL CHAIR: PETER GERTLER VICE CHAIR: AL ENGEL 26 2016 STATES ROUNDUP SECRETARY: ANNA BARRY OFFICER AT LARGE: DAVID CAMERON IMMEDIATE PAST-CHAIR: DAVID KUTROSKY 36 HSR ROI STUDY EDITOR: WENDY WENNER PUBLISHER: AL ENGEL ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: KENNETH SISLAK ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: ERIC PETERSON 37 APTA RAIL CONFERENCE IN JUNE u PASSENGER RAIL SESSIONS LAYOUT DESIGNER: WENDY WENNER 38 HSR TRAINING SPEEDLINES is published in cooperation withthe: High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Committee and the 39 STB GUIDANCE American Public Transportation Association 1300 I Street NW, Suite 1200 East Washington, DC 20005 © 2011-2016 APTA - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3 CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE Our economy faces many challenges.
    [Show full text]
  • The Right Track: Building a 21St Century High-Speed Rail System
    The Right Track Building a 21st Century High-Speed Rail System for America U.S. PIRG Education Fund The Right Track Building a 21st Century High-Speed Rail System for America U.S. PIRG Education Fund Written by: Tony Dutzik and Siena Kaplan, Frontier Group Phineas Baxandall, Ph.D., U.S. PIRG Education Fund Acknowledgments U.S. PIRG Education Fund thanks the following individuals for their review and insight- ful suggestions: Scott Bernstein, president of the Center for Neighborhood Technology; John Robert Smith, president and CEO of Reconnecting America; and Kevin Brubaker, deputy director of the Environmental Law & Policy Center. Thanks also to Susan Rakov and Elizabeth Ridlington for their editorial support. The generous financial support of the Rockefeller Foundation made this report possible. The authors bear responsibility for any factual errors. The recommendations are those of U.S. PIRG Education Fund. The views expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of our funders or those who provided review. © 2010 U.S. PIRG Education Fund With public debate around important issues often dominated by special interests pursuing their own narrow agendas, U.S. PIRG Education Fund offers an independent voice that works on behalf of the public interest. U.S. PIRG Education Fund, a 501(c)(3) organiza- tion, works to protect consumers and promote good government. We investigate prob- lems, craft solutions, educate the public, and offer Americans meaningful opportunities for civic participation. For more information about U.S. PIRG Education Fund or for additional copies of this report, please visit www.uspirg.org.
    [Show full text]
  • SPEEDLINES, High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Committee, Issue
    High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail SPEEDLINES May 2021 ISSUE #31 WASHINGTON WIRE: Legislative Update » p. 7 AMTRAK’S VISION TO GROW » p. 10 HIGH-SPEED AND INTERCITY PASSENGER RAIL PROGRESS » p. 21 CONTENTS 2 SPEEDLINES MAGAZINE On the front cover: OVER THE NEXT 15 YEARS, AMTRAK’S VISION FOR 3 CHAIRMAN’S LETTER EXPANSION IS TO CONNECT UP TO 160 COMMUNI- Greetings from our Chair, Joe Giulietti TIES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES BY BUILD- ING NEW OR IMPROVED RAIL CORRIDORS IN MORE THAN 25 STATES. AS PART OF THIS PLAN, AMTRAK WILL INTRODUCE NEW STATIONS IN OVER HALF THE 4 APTA’S EVENT CALENDAR U.S. STATES, INCREASE RAIL SERVICE TO 47 OF THE TOP FEATURE ARTICLE: 50 METROPOLITAN AREAS AND CREATE OVER HALF A MILLION NEW, WELL-PAYING JOBS. 5 CAHSR RECOVERY & TRANSFORMATION 7 WASHINGTON WIRE 9 STB NOMINATION NEWS 10 AMTRAK’S VISION TO GROW 12 SPOTLIGHT ABOVE: Biden joined Amtrak executives for a 13 REGULATORY REFORM ceremony in Philadelphia, PA USA to pay homage to the past and share Amtrak’s vision for the future. 16 REVISED PLAN: APPLE VALLEY PROJECT CHAIR: JOE GIULIETTI VICE CHAIR: CHRIS BRADY 18 REVIVING A RAIL RESOLUTION SECRETARY: MELANIE K. JOHNSON OFFICER AT LARGE: MICHAEL MCLAUGHLIN IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR: AL ENGEL 21 STATE ROUNDUP - 2021 PROGRESS EDITOR: WENDY WENNER PUBLISHER: ERIC PETERSON ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: DAVID WILCOCK IMMEDIATE PAST PUBLISHER: KENNETH SISLAK PUBLISHER EMERITUS: AL ENGEL © 2011-2021 APTA - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED SPEEDLINES is published in cooperation with: AMERICAN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION 1300 I Street NW, Suite 1200 East Washington, DC 20005 3 A letter from our Chair: Joseph Giulietti This is an exciting time to be involved in public transportation and especially the high-speed and intercity passenger rail business.
    [Show full text]
  • High-Speed Rail Investment Background Data
    High-Speed Rail Investment Background Data February 1, 2011 American Public Transportation Association 1666 K Street, N.W., Suite 1100 Washington, DC 20006 TELEPHONE: (202) 496-4800 E-MAIL: [email protected] www.apta.com APTA’s Vision Statement Be the leading force in advancing public transportation. APTA’s Mission Statement APTA serves and leads its diverse membership through advocacy, innovation, and information sharing to strengthen and expand public transportation. Prepared by John Neff, Senior Policy Researcher [email protected] (202) 496-4812 High-Speed Rail Investment Background Data American Public Transportation Association Washington, DC February 1, 2011 Material produced by APTA from High-Speed Rail Investment Background Data, excluding material cited from non-APTA publications, may be quoted or reproduced, with appropriate attribution, without obtaining the permission of the American Public Transportation Association. Suggested Identification: American Public Transportation Association. High-Speed Rail Investment Background Data. Washington, DC, February 1, 2011. High Speed Rail Investment Background Data | 3 Table of Contents I. Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 6 I.a. Intercity Passenger Railroad Service Contrasted to Commuter Railroad Service ...................................................................................................................... 6 I.b. Definition of High-Speed Rail ...........................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • September 2011 SMART Transportation
    Volume 43 September 2011 Number 9 www.utuia.org www.utu.org The Official Publication of the United Transportation Union Delegates elect officers, amend constitution HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Delegates elected Mike Futhey to his second four-year term as president of the United Transportation Union Aug. 8, and amended the union’s constitution, during the UTU’s 11th quadrennial convention here. Futhey, a member of Local 950, West Mem - phis, Ark., was re-elected by a vote of 453-34 against challenger Scott Cole , delegate from Local 278, Jackson, Mich. “This vote was a complete repudiation of the four-year effort of the Sheet Metal Workers International Association to take over the UTU,” said Steve Simpson , delegate from Local 489, San Antonio, Texas, following the vote. Most UTU officers re-elected by acclamation Also re-elected Aug. 8 – by acclamation – were Assistant President Arty Martin (Local 78, Pocatello, Idaho); General Secretary & Treasurer Kim Thompson (Local 226, Moberly, Mo.) and National Legislative Director James Stem (Local UTU International President Mike Futhey, center, with Assistant President Arty Martin, left, and General Secretary & Treas - 1129, Raleigh, N.C.). urer Kim Thompson. Election results for UTU International officers include: • Bonnie Morr (Local 23, San Jose, Calif.) Gonzalez (Local 1563, El Monte, Calif.), who • Robert Kerley (Local 303, Springfield, defeated Calvin Studivant (Local 759, Newark, received 74 votes. Mo.), Dave Wier (Local 469, Madison, Ill.), N.J.) by a vote of 274-213. • Larry Barrilleaux (Local 1836, New John Previsich (Local 31, San Jose, Calif.) and Additionally, Alternate National Legislative Orleans), R.W. “Red” Dare (Local 1525, Car - Delbert Strunk (Local 225, Bellevue, Ohio) Director John Risch (Local 1344, Mandan, bondale, Ill.), John England (Local 1674, Los were all re-elected by acclamation as UTU Inter - N.D.) was re-elected, defeating Jay Seegmiller Angeles), Troy Johnson (Local 594, Mineola, national vice presidents.
    [Show full text]
  • Winning the Future with Young Americans
    Winning the Future with Young Americans An E-Book Summarizing 100+ Youth Roundtables 2011 Whitehouse.gov/YoungAmericans “Regardless of your political affiliation, you’ve got to be involved, especially the young people here, your generation. If you don’t give us a shove, if you don’t give the system a push, it’s just not going to change. And you’re going to be the ones who end up suffering the consequences. But if you are behind it, if you put the same energy and imagination that you put into Facebook into the political process, I guarantee you there’s nothing we can’t solve.” - President Barack Obama April 20, 2011 Palo Alto, California Facebook Town Hall Table of Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................... 1 A Note About the Numbers: ........................................................................................................................................... 3 Your Most Important Issue ............................................................................................................................................. 4 Overall Issues Discussed + Breakdown ......................................................................................................................... 5 5 Ways to Take Action ................................................................................................................................................... 9 Roundtable Locations ...................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Right Track: Building a 21St Century High-Speed Rail System
    The Right Track Building a 21st Century High-Speed Rail System for America OSPIRG Foundation The Right Track Building a 21st Century High-Speed Rail System for America OSPIRG Foundation Written by: Tony Dutzik and Siena Kaplan, Frontier Group Phineas Baxandall, Ph.D., U.S. PIRG Education Fund Acknowledgments OSPIRG Foundation thanks the following individuals for their review and insightful sug- gestions: Scott Bernstein, president of the Center for Neighborhood Technology; John Robert Smith, president and CEO of Reconnecting America; and Kevin Brubaker, deputy director of the Environmental Law & Policy Center. Thanks also to Susan Rakov and Elizabeth Ridlington for their editorial support. The generous financial support of the Rockefeller Foundation made this report possible. The authors bear responsibility for any factual errors. The recommendations are those of OSPIRG Foundation. The views expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of our funders or those who provided review. © 2010 OSPIRG Foundation With public debate around important issues often dominated by special interests pursuing their own narrow agendas, OSPIRG Foundation offers an independent voice that works on behalf of the public interest. OSPIRG Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, works to protect consumers and promote good government. We investigate problems, craft solu- tions, educate the public, and offer Oregonians meaningful opportunities for civic partici- pation. For more information about OSPIRG Foundation or for additional copies of this report, please visit www.ospirg.org. Frontier Group conducts independent research and policy analysis to support a cleaner, healthier and more democratic society. Our mission is to inject accurate information and compelling ideas into public policy debates at the local, state and federal levels.
    [Show full text]
  • Transportation Network Michiana on the Move
    Chapter 3: Transportation Network Michiana on the Move Figure 3-1: RoadwayNetwork 3 Transportation Network Social and economic characteristics can influence the demand on the transportation system. More people, more jobs, or more economic successes can result in higher traffic volumes and increased development. The 2045 Transportation Plan analyzes the trends and projections of social and economic characteristics, in order to better understand the future demand on the regional transportation system. The transportation network is more than roads and highways; it includes public transportation, bicycle and arterials, major and minor collectors, and local pedestrian paths and the movement of freight. roads. The transportation network is always It is not just one of these elements, but all of evolving and because of this, it is important to them working together, to create an efficient identify and address changes, challenges, and and effective transportation network for people opportunities that might occur in the future and products to move throughout the region. through the visioning of the transportation Figure 3-1 shows the major roadways within the planning process. MACOG region. National Highway System Roads and Highways The National Highways System (NHS) contains The MACOG region is comprised of over 6,548 roads and highways important to the nation’s miles of roadway, providing connectivity and economy, defense, and mobility and therefore access, both locally and regionally. At its most should be given the highest priority for basic, the roadway network can be separated into improvements and repairs. Within the MACOG three categories: the national highway system, region there is one corridor that is part of the state facilities, and local facilities.
    [Show full text]
  • INDOT State Rail Plan
    INDOT State Rail Plan Virtual Stakeholder Meeting Summary Report - October 27, 2020 INDOT State Rail Plan 2021 | Virtual Stakeholder Meeting Summary – October 27, 2020 Contents 1.1 Meeting Details - 2 - 2.1 Meeting Manager - 2 - 3.1 Attendees - 2 - 4.1 Meeting Agenda - 2 - 5.1 Overview of State Rail Plan Development Process and Timeline - 3 - 6.1 State Rail Plan Topics - 3 - 7.1 Q&A and Discussion - 4 - 8.1 Staying Connected - 6 - Appendix A: Webex Virtual Stakeholder Meeting Presentation - 7 - Appendix B: Webex Individual Polling Responses and Summaries - 8 - Appendix C: Webex Virtual Meeting Chat Log - 18 - Appendix D: Meeting Attendees - 27 - - 1 - INDOT State Rail Plan 2021 | Virtual Stakeholder Meeting Summary – October 27, 2020 Agenda Project: INDOT State Rail Plan Subject: Virtual Stakeholder Meeting #1 Date: Tuesday, October 27, 2020 Location: Webex Virtual Meeting Attendees: Total: 62 | A full list of attendees is available in Appendix D. 1.1 Meeting Details This meeting was held virtually on Webex and introduced the stakeholders to the project including the overview of the State Rail Plan, it's development, timing, purpose, and economic benefits. This was an opportunity for participants to talk to the project team in an open discussion and have their questions answered. Ameerah Palacios and Keith Bucklew facilitated the meeting. The full presentation is detailed in Appendix A. Date Time Location October 27, 2020 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Webex Virtual Meeting 2.1 Meeting Manager Ameerah Palacios, Senior Strategic Communications Coordinator 3.1 Attendees Staff Responsibility Keith Bucklew Presenter Matt Van Hattem Presenter Ameerah Palacios Facilitator, Production and Scribe 4.1 Meeting Agenda Agenda Time Facilitator Welcome 1 p.m.- 1:05 p.m.
    [Show full text]
  • ON TRACK the E-Bulletin of the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers [email protected] Issue # 100 August 2020
    ON TRACK The E-Bulletin of the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers www.marp.org [email protected] Issue # 100 August 2020 The Michigan Association of Railroad Is It the Beginning of the End for Passengers, Inc. (MARP) is a 501 (c)(3) non- Long Distance Trains? profit corporation established in 1973 to improve passenger train service, travel Spurred on by passenger train users nationwide, Congress included in the conditions for passengers, and to work for the CARES Act $1.02B in relief funding to keep trains running, albeit on preservation of historic rail stations. reduced schedules, through September 30, the end of the fiscal year. As it Monthly meetings are held at locations around became clear that the pandemic was not going away any time soon and the state. Check the website for dates and that ridership levels may well remain 50% below last year’s totals, Amtrak venues. The public is invited to attend. CEO William Flynn returned to Congress, requesting an additional $1.475B MARP EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE for FY2021. At the same time, he announced plans to lay off 1 in 5 Amtrak 2018-2020 workers and reduce service on most long-distance routes from daily to 3 times Adam Tauno Williams Chair a week. This strategy is viewed by most observers as a grave threat to the Joshua Hamilton Vice-Chair continued existence of the National Network, despite Flynn’s assurances— Steve Vagnozzi Treasurer during a recent interview with the Washington Post—that “the long- Open Secretary distance network is an essential part of Amtrak’s national network and it’s Open Gov’t/Public Affairs Coordinator a service we’re fully committed to.” Jeanie Merckel Membership Coordinator Kay Chase Communications Coordinator The FY2021 transportation bill passed by the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Jurisdictional Initiatives and the Implications for Megaregion Transportation Planning in the US
    Megaregions: Literature Review of Organizational Structures and Finance of Multi- jurisdictional Initiatives and the Implications for Megaregion Transportation Planning in the U.S. For U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highway Administration Dr. Catherine L. Ross, Principal Investigator CENTER FOR QUALITY GROWTH AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT at the GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY October 2011 Megaregions: Literature Review of Organizational Structures and Finance of Multi-jurisdictional Initiatives and the Implications for Megaregion Transportation Planning in the U.S. Project Title: The Architecture of the Megaregion (DTFH61-11-C-00003) Deliverable 1: a report summarizing findings of the literature reviews on U.S. and international megaregion frameworks for transportation planning Submitted to: U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Office of Planning 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 Point of Contact: Frederick Bowers Submitted by: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (A Non-profit, State Controlled Institution of Higher Education) Principal Investigator: Dr. Catherine L. Ross ([email protected]) Co-PIs: Myungje Woo, Harry West, Michael Meyer, and Adjo Amekudzi Researchers: Michael Elliott, John Leonard II, Sarah Cox, Anna Harkness, Arthi Rao, and Bianca Smith Georgia Institute of Technology College of Architecture Center for Quality Growth and Regional Development (CQGRD) 760 Spring Street, Suite 213 Atlanta, GA 30332-0790 Phone: (404) 385-5133, FAX: (404) 385-5127 ii Megaregions: Literature Review of Organizational Structures and Finance of Multi- jurisdictional Initiatives and the Implications for Megaregion Transportation Planning in the U.S. Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 SECTION I. INTRODUCTION 5 A. Research Background 5 B. Report Organization 6 SECTION II.
    [Show full text]
  • First Half 2020 All Aboard Indiana
    ALL The Official Newsletter of the ABOARD Volume 7, Number 1 January / February / March 2020 IN THIS ISSUE: Page One The Rail Passengers THE RAIL PASSENGERS ASSOCIATION NEEDS Association Needs Your Help - Please Get YOUR HELP - PLEASE GET INVOLVED! Involved! Page Two The Rail Passengers Association (RPA) Amtrak’s Preference (https://www.railpassengers.org/) is our Rights Are Not New - partner to improve passenger rail service in our Or Reason For Alarm region and our country. In Indiana, we have Page Four two representatives on the RPA : Duane Chattin (Vincennes) and Council of Representatives Louisville’s RAPID BRT is Tod K Bassler (Indianapolis). The role of members of this Council is to be a volunteer leader, an Here! essential link, who unite local and national efforts to improve passenger trains and transit. Both Looking Back at Rail Pax and Duane and Tod work to inform and educate Hoosiers and decision makers in our Indiana Government Its Hoosier Roots as to what can be done to improve Indiana’s passenger rail travel option. We need your help. Please Page Five consider joining RPA and IPRA (if you haven’t already) and contribute to success! What it May Take to Reverse the Beeching Let’s discuss three important current events related to RPA that will help you decide your role in Cuts of the 1960s in improving Indiana’s future passenger rail travel option. Great Britain 1. The Rail Passengers Association (RPA) Rail Nation Fall Conference 2019 last October in Page Ten Sacramento, CA It’s Time to Build High 2. The Amtrak Now and into the Future House Hearing last November in Washington, DC Speed Rail 3.
    [Show full text]